Young completed her revisions by summer 2008 and by the end of the year the manuscript was picked up by agent Susan Yearwood. After further revisions suggested by Bloomsbury editors, Young signed a deal with Bloomsbury in February 2010. In a recent Guardian books review Young is described “as a gifted new writer. Her novel is a blindingly good read in parts, both for its mesmeric story-telling and the quality of its prose.”

Pao tells the story of a young Chinese boy and his family who move to Jamaica escaping the revolution at home.  In Jamaica they enter into a world that is far from peaceful, with murder, corruption, blackmail, kidnap and incest.  The Independent writes: “Kerry Young’s energetic debut novel is a pacy but absorbing saga of domestic and gangland manoeuvring set against the violent backdrop of postwar Jamaican politics.”

Click here to see a YouTube clip with Young talking about her new novel.

In the article in the Independent on Sunday, Rebecca explains that the idea for the consultancy came while working at Virago.  She realised that writers who had had their submission rejected had no where to turn.  Rebecca writes, ” it became clear that a company that took it upon itself to try to perform acts of translation between the world of the writer and the industry should, as Carmen Callil later put it in in a ‘quote’ for us, ‘bridge the gap between agent, publisher and author and be of help to all three.’”

Click here to learn more about the prize and this year’s winner.